Queen Camilla’s ‘unusual’ move at Remembrance event as Kate steps down from key role

Queen Camilla stood side by side with Princess Kate at today’s tearful Remembrance Day service, and as her husband King Charles paid a moving tribute to the fallen, she made a ‘powerful’ move

Queen Camilla cut a sombre figure as she honoured those lost in conflict at today’s tear-jerking Remembrance Sunday service.

The emotional monarch watched as her husband King Charles laid a wreath at the Centotaph at Whitehall in London, with tears filling his eyes. Thousands of veterans joined the proceedings as the King stood on the parade ground with other royals, while Princess Kate watched on with Camilla from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Prince Edward and Prince William joined Charles in laying down their own beautiful wreaths, with Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, watching on above and wiping tears from her eyes. Princess Anne, a staple figure at such events, was notably missing from the service as she continues her official trip to Australia on behalf of the Crown.

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And as Queen Camilla took back her rightful place on the balcony this year after missing last year’s event due to illness, she made an ‘unusual’ move that showed just how emotionally charged the day was, according to an expert.

Noting how visibly moved Charles was as he paid his respects, body language and communications specialist Judi James told The Mirror: “This was a severely diminished royal group thanks to Princess Anne commemorating abroad and Andrew’s obvious absence. A rather tearful-looking Charles had just his elder son and his younger brother behind him and looked especially isolated and reflective as he stood beneath the Cenotaph.”

Judi continued: “His rather frail body language, with a very careful backing down the steps after the wreath-laying and some very heavy-looking swallowing as he stood in silence, did seem to prompt an unusually powerful look of love and support from his wife Camilla as he moved to walk back inside the building.

“Her asymmetric smile with lips closed and a warm softening of the eye expression seemed to endorse the applause that was heard from the crowds outside. It was a look of approval and a non-verbal message of ‘well done’.”

Last year, Kate was the highest-ranked royal on the balconies, due to the Queen’s absence. But as Camilla returned to her rightful place this year, she resumed her role in leading members of the Firm from up high. The Queen and the Princess of Wales, both dressed in black, sang the national anthem together on the balcony. They were joined in a rousing rendition of the anthem as all those at the Cenotaph joined in at the end of the Remembrance service.

It comes as Kate and Prince George joined the King and Queen at the Festival of Remembrance in London last night, where the royals enjoyed performances from the likes of Sir Rod Stewart and Sam Ryder. It was a significant moment for 12-year-old George, who looked smart in a black suit complete with a striped tie and poppy pin. He walked into the breathtaking Royal Albert Hall alongside mum Kate, marking another big step up for the young royal.

George has been moving into a more senior role over recent months. In May, he made a surprise appearance at a Buckingham Palace tea party with William and Kate to mark the start of VE Day commemorations. There, he spoke to veterans who were left ‘impressed’ by his interest in their stories.

The royals have put on a unified front at today’s sombre ceremony following weeks of turmoil over Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The joint outing comes just days after the disgraced former prince was officially stripped of his titles and honours, and told to vacate Royal Lodge, his 30-room mansion in Windsor.

William is said to have played a key part in taking formal action against his shamed uncle, who finally agreed to leave the property that he has paid barely any rent on for 20 years. King Charles’ decision came after fresh revelations arose over Andrew’s relationship with paedophile financer Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew vehemently denies all claims against him.